Method and apparatus for processing crustacean body parts and processed crustacean body parts

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for processing a crustacean body part is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor, a first blade, and a first fluidic device. The conveyor has a downstream direction and a first region for supporting a crustacean body part. The first fluidic device is drivingly coupled to the first blade, and actuation of the first fluidic device moves the first blade into the first region. Methods of processing a crustacean body part, methods and apparatus for cracking a crustacean shell, controllers for directing processing of a crustacean body part, and pre-cut seafood items are also disclosed.

FIELD

The field of the invention relates to apparatus and methods forprocessing crustacean body parts, and to processed crustacean bodyparts.

INTRODUCTION

Crustaceans, such as lobsters and crabs, are often processed by scoresof workers that manually fracture or score the shell of the crustaceanwith a knife, to separate the shell from the meat inside. Thisprocessing method however is labor intensive and increasingly expensive.Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide an apparatus that canautomate and improve upon the processing of crustaceans.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an apparatus for cracking a shell of a crustacean bodypart is provided. The apparatus may comprise a base, a clamp, and atleast a first piercing member. The base for supporting a crustacean bodypart. The clamp may be positioned to secure the body part in a region onthe base. The first piercing member may be movable toward the region forpiercing a shell of the body part, and may be rotatable for cracking thepierced shell of the body part.

In another aspect, a method of cracking a shell of a crustacean bodypart is provided. The method may comprise piercing a shell of acrustacean body part with a first piercing member to form a firstinceptive crack in the shell; and twisting the first piercing member topropagate the first inceptive crack laterally about at least a firstportion of a circumference of the shell.

In another aspect, a method of processing a crustacean body part isprovided. The method may comprise actuating a first fluidic devicedrivingly coupled to a first blade, driving the first blade to penetratea first shell side of a shell of a crustacean body part; cutting a firstlengthwise incision in the first shell side with the first blade;actuating a second fluidic device drivingly coupled to a second blade,driving the second blade to penetrate a second shell side of the shell;and cutting a second lengthwise incision in the second shell side withthe second blade.

In another aspect, a method of processing a crustacean body part isprovided. The method may comprise penetrating a first shell portion of ashell of a crustacean body part with a first blade to a first cuttingdepth; cutting a first lengthwise incision in the first shell portionwith the first blade; penetrating a second shell portion of the shellwith a second blade to a second cutting depth different from the firstcutting depth; and cutting a second lengthwise incision in the secondshell portion with the second blade.

In another aspect, a method of processing a crustacean body part isprovided, the method performed by an apparatus for processing crustaceanbody parts. The method may comprise conveying the crustacean body partin a downstream direction; measuring size information of the crustaceanbody part; and determining one or more operational parameters of a shellcutting assembly based at least in part on the size information.

In another aspect, a controller for directing processing a crustaceanbody part by an apparatus for processing a crustacean body part isprovided. The controller may comprise a memory, and one or moreprocessors. The memory storing computer readable instructions. The oneor more processors collectively configured to execute the computerreadable instructions. The computer readable instructions configuringthe one or more processors to collectively receive size information of acrustacean body part from a sensor; and determine one or moreoperational parameters of a shell cutting assembly of the apparatusbased at least in part on the size information.

In another aspect, an apparatus for processing a crustacean body part isprovided. The apparatus may comprise a conveyor, a first blade, and afirst fluidic device. The conveyor having a first region for supportinga crustacean body part. The first fluidic device may be drivinglycoupled to the first blade. Actuation of the first fluidic device maymove the first blade toward the first region for cutting into a firstside of a shell of the crustacean body part supported on the conveyor.

In another aspect, a pre-cut seafood item is provided. The seafood itemmay comprise a crustacean limb. The limb may include an organicallyconnected claw and knuckle, an exterior shell, and meat inside theshell. The limb may extend in length from a proximal severed end of theknuckle to a distal end of the claw. The limb may include a crack in theshell circumscribing the claw. The crack may divide the shell into adistal shell portion and a proximal shell portion. The limb may alsoinclude at least a first cut in the proximal shell portion, the firstcut extending lengthwise from the crack toward the proximal end of theknuckle.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for processing crustaceans,in accordance with at least one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, withupper and lower cutting subassemblies in storage positions;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, withthe upper and lower cutting subassemblies in engaged positions;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus for processing crustaceans,in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, inaccordance with another embodiment, in which an upper cuttingsubassembly in an engaged position;

FIG. 8 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 with the upper cuttingsubassembly in a storage position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two lower cutting subassemblies, eachincluding a blade in an engaged position, in accordance with at leastone embodiment;

FIG. 10 is the perspective view of FIG. 9, with the blade of one of thelower cutting subassemblies in the storage position, in accordance withat least one embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the two lower cutting subassembliesof FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the two lower cutting subassembliesof FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of two upper conveyors, and two uppercutting subassemblies, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the two upper cutting subassemblies ofFIG. 13, with a blade of one upper cutting subassembly in a storageposition, and a blade of another upper cutting subassembly in an engagedposition;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the two upper cutting subassemblies ofFIG. 13, with the blade of each upper cutting subassembly in an engagedposition;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 13, withthe blade of the upper cutting subassembly in a storage position;

FIG. 17 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 16, with the blade of theupper cutting subassembly in an engaged position;

FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of the two upper cutting subassembliesof FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the two upper cutting subassembliesof FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a side view of a crustacean body part in cross-section, and acutting blade, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of the cutting blade of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is partial perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showinga cracking assembly with a clamp and piercing members in storagepositions;

FIG. 23 is the partial perspective view of FIG. 22, with the clamp in anengaged position, and the piercing members in storage positions;

FIG. 24 is the partial perspective view of FIG. 22, with the clamp andpiercing members in engaged positions;

FIG. 25 is the partial perspective view of FIG. 22, with the clamp andpiercing members in engaged positions, and the piercing members rotated;

FIG. 25A is a perspective view of a piercing member, in accordance withat least one embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a schematic illustration of a controller, in accordance withat least one embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of FIG. 1, inaccordance with at least one embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a method of processing a crustaceanbody part;

FIG. 29 is a side view of a claw and knuckle, with a crack formed in theshell of the claw, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a side view of a claw and knuckle, with a crack formed in theshell of the claw, and a cut along the side of the shell of the knuckle,in accordance with at least one embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a side view of a claw and knuckle, with a crack formed in theshell of the claw, and a cut extending from the crack along the side ofthe shell of the knuckle;

FIG. 32 is a side view of a claw and knuckle, with a crack formed in theshell of the claw, and a cut extending along the shell of the claw andshell of the knuckle;

FIG. 33 is a side view of a crustacean body part having different shellportions, in accordance with at least one embodiment;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of an upper cutting subassembly, inaccordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a side elevation view of a crustacean processing apparatusincluding the upper cutting subassembly of FIG. 34 with blades in astorage position; and

FIG. 36 is a side elevation view of the crustacean processing apparatusof FIG. 35 with blades in an engage position.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Numerous embodiments are described in this application, and arepresented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments arenot intended to be limiting in any sense. The invention is widelyapplicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from thedisclosure herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that thepresent invention may be practiced with modification and alterationwithout departing from the teachings disclosed herein. Althoughparticular features of the present invention may be described withreference to one or more particular embodiments or figures, it should beunderstood that such features are not limited to usage in the one ormore particular embodiments or figures with reference to which they aredescribed.

The terms “an embodiment,” “embodiment,” “embodiments,” “theembodiment,” “the embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” “someembodiments,” and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all)embodiments of the present invention(s),” unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. Alisting of items does not imply that any or all of the items aremutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,”“an” and “the” mean “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a crustacean processing apparatus 100 in accordancewith at least one embodiment. As shown, the apparatus 100 may includeone or more of a conveyor 104, a shell cutting assembly 108, and a shellcracking assembly 112. For example, various embodiments of apparatus 100may include cutting assembly 108; or cracking assembly 112; or conveyor104 and cutting assembly 108; or conveyor 104 and cracking assembly 112;or conveyor 104, cutting assembly 108, and cracking assembly 112.Furthermore, apparatus 100 may include more than one conveyor 104, morethan one cutting assembly 108, and/or more than one cracking assembly112. For example, apparatus 100 as shown includes two conveyors 104, twocutting assemblies 108, and two cracking assemblies 112. Apparatus 100may further include a controller 116 for operating one or more ofconveyor 104, cutting assembly 108, and cracking assembly 112.

In use, a user may place a crustacean body part 124 (e.g. limb, such asa claw and knuckle) on a rear end 120 of conveyor 104. Conveyor 104 maythen convey the body part 124 in a downstream direction 128 across theblades of cutting assembly 108 which may cut lengthwise incisionsthrough the shell of the body part 124. Alternatively, or in addition,conveyor 104 may convey the body part 124 to cracking assembly 112 whichmay crack the shell of body part 124 circumferentially. The cut andcracked body part 124 may be discharged at the front end 132 of conveyor104. Preferably, the meat of body part 124 can be easily removed fromthe cut and cracked shell. In use a user can orientate the claw on theconveyor knuckle first, claw first, crab leg open joint first or crableg foot first. The user may run just knuckles, knuckles with horn (hornis half claw shell still attached to knuckle), crab legs, full lobsterclaws, or full lobster tails for example.

Conveyor

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3. Conveyor 104 may be any suitableconveyor for transporting a crustacean body part 124 to cutting andcracking assemblies 108 and 112. In the illustrated example, conveyor104 includes a lower conveyor 136 for supporting and transporting acrustacean body part 124. As shown, lower conveyor 136 may be a beltconveyor including a continuous belt 140 which extends about a pluralityof pulleys 144. Although, the embodiment shown includes four pulleys144, lower conveyor 136 may include any suitable number of pulleys (e.g.2 to 20 pulleys). Any one or more of pulleys 144 may be driven tocirculate belt 140 in an endless loop. A pulley 144 may be driven in anysuitable fashion. As exemplified, belt conveyor 136 may include a motor148 having a drive shaft 152 connected to one of pulleys 144 for drivingbelt 140 to circulate in an endless loop.

Preferably, conveyor 104 includes one or more alignment members forpositioning and orienting a body part transported by conveyor 104. Thealignment members may provide the body part with a consistent positionand orientation during processing by the cutting and crackingassemblies. In the illustrated example, belt 140 of lower conveyor 136includes an upper surface 156 for supporting a crustacean body part 124,and a plurality of alignment members 160 extending from upper surface156 to assist with positioning and orienting the body part 124.

Alignment members 160 may take any form suitable for the particular bodypart to be processed by apparatus 100. In the illustrated embodiment,alignment members 160 include two upstanding panels 164 extendinglongitudinally downstream, and which are laterally spaced apart by adistance 168 sufficient to accommodate a crustacean claw, and two rowsof upstanding panels 172, each panel extending laterally, and the tworows being laterally spaced apart a distance 176 sufficient toaccommodate a crustacean knuckle. Preferably, distance 168 is between 25mm and 100 mm, and more preferably between 50 mm and 80 mm. Preferably,distance 176 is between 1 mm and 30 mm, and more preferably 10 mm and 25mm. In use, a claw and knuckle (still integrally formed as unitary limbsevered from a crustacean) may be placed on upper surface 156 of beltconveyor 136 with the claw positioned between panels 164 and the knuckleextending rearwardly in between rows of panels 172. Alignment members160 may help to straighten a supported body part on upper surface 156,which may be helpful for crustacean body parts, such as claws andknuckles, that may be naturally curved. Moreover, alignment members 160may help to support body part in position against rotation duringprocessing by cutting assembly 108 and cracking assembly 112 forconsistent results.

In alternative embodiments, alignment members 160 may have a differentstructure. For example, each row of upstanding laterally extendingpanels 172 may be substituted by one longitudinally extending panel(such as panel 164). Further, alignment members 160 may be formed of anysuitable material. For example, alignment members 160 may be rigid, orresiliently flexible. Preferably, alignment members 160 protrude fromupper surface 156 of belt 140. For example, alignment members 160 mayextend normal to upper surface 156 as shown, or at a (non-zero) angle tonormal.

Conveyor 104 may provide one or more openings (e.g. slots) cooperablewith cutting assembly 108 and/or cracking assembly 112 to facilitatecutting and/or cracking, respectively. In the illustrated example, belt140 of belt conveyor 136 is formed of discrete belt segments 180positioned laterally side-by-side. As shown, belt segments 180 may belaterally spaced apart to define a longitudinal slot 184 therebetween.Slot 184 may provide clearance for a blade or other element of cuttingassembly 108 or cracking assembly 112 to protrude. As exemplified,alignment members 160 may be laterally spaced apart on opposite sides ofslot 184, for retaining a crustacean body part 124 over the slot 184.This may make a body part 124 accessible through slot 184 to a blade orother element of cutting assembly 108 or cracking assembly 112.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), belt 140 may be formed by asingle belt segment 180 with discrete openings provided where acrustacean body part 124 is intended to be placed. For example, belt 140may include a plurality of discrete slots positioned between alignmentmembers 160. In further embodiments, conveyor 104 may not include anyopenings or slots providing access to a crustacean body part 124 throughconveyor 104. For example, one or more of cutting assembly 108 andcracking assembly 112 may engage with a crustacean body part 124 carriedon conveyor 104 from the side or above without having to pass anyelement(s) through a slot in the conveyor 104.

Crustacean processing apparatus 100 may include more than one conveyor104. In the illustrate example, apparatus 100 includes two conveyors104. Each conveyor 104 is shown including a belt conveyor 136. Together,the two belt conveyors 136 as shown include three belt segments 180arranged laterally side-by-side and laterally spaced apart to define twoslots 184. Preferably, belt conveyors 136 operate in synchronicity atthe same speed so that the alignment members 160 on the common centralbelt segment 180 stay aligned with the alignment members 160 on the twoouter belt segments 180. This may also permit the two belt conveyors 136to be driven by a common motor 148.

In alternative embodiments, belt conveyors 136 may operateindependently. For example, belt conveyors 136 may not share a commonbelt segment 180 and instead each belt conveyor 136 may include adifferent pair of belt segments 180 (e.g. four belt segments 180 intotal). In this case, each belt conveyor 136 may be optionally driven byseparate motors, which may permit one belt conveyor 136 to be takenoffline for repair or replacement while the other belt conveyor 136continues operating normally.

In some embodiments, a conveyor 104 may include upper and lowerconveyors which cooperate to carry a crustacean body part 124 from therear end 120 of conveyor 104 to the front end 132 of conveyor 104. Theupper conveyor may extend along the full length of the lower conveyor132 or along a portion less than the full length of the lower conveyor132. In the illustrated example, each conveyor 104 includes a lowerconveyor 136 and an upper conveyor 188. The upper conveyor 188 may bealigned directed above the lower conveyor 136 as shown, or laterallyoffset. Preferably, the lower and upper conveyors 136 and 188 share acommon downstream direction 128 of conveyance.

As exemplified, the upper conveyor 188 may be vertically spaced apartfrom the lower conveyor 136 by a distance 190 that can accommodate acrustacean body part 124. Distance 190 is preferably between 1 mm and100 mm, and more preferably between 1 mm and 50 mm. In operation, theupper conveyor 188 may bear down on a crustacean body part 124 supportedon the lower conveyor 136, effectively clamping the crustacean body part124 between the lower and upper conveyors 136 and 188. This may help toprevent the crustacean body part 124 from moving during cutting. Forexample, upper conveyor 188 may prevent crustacean body part 124 fromlifting off of lower conveyor 136 when cutting the into the crustaceanbody part 124 from below.

Upper conveyor 188 may take any suitable form. In the illustrateexample, upper conveyor 188 is a chain conveyor including a plurality oflinks 192 that are interconnected to form a continuous chain loop 196.The chain loop 196 is held in tension between two or more pulleys 200,and driven to rotate. Any one or more of pulleys 200 may be driven by amotor 204 to circulate the chain loop 196. In some embodiments, links192 of chain loop 196 may directly contact crustacean body parts 124supported on lower conveyor 136. Alternatively, the embodiment shownincludes a plurality of engagement members 208, where each engagementmember 208 extends outwardly from a respective link 192 of chain loop196. In this case, engagement members 208 may contact crustacean bodyparts 124 instead of links 192.

Optionally, engagement members 208 may be resiliently deformable. Thismay permit engagement members 208 to conform to the variable surfaceprofile of a crustacean body part 124. In turn, this may increase thecontact surface area between upper conveyor 188 and the crustacean bodypart 124. In the illustrated example, each engagement member 208 isformed by a plurality of outwardly extending fingers 212. Fingers 212may extend substantially normal to an outside surface of the chain loop196 or at angle to normal as shown. In alternative embodiments, anengagement member 208 may be formed by a deformable elastomeric (e.g.rubber) pad.

Upper conveyor 188 may include one or more openings (e.g. slots) topermit a blade or other element of cutting or cracking assemblies 108and 112 to pass through the upper conveyor 188 for operating on acrustacean body part 124 below. For example, upper conveyor 188 may beformed from two or more chain loop segments 216 positioned laterallyside-by-side. In this case, chain loop segments 216 may be laterallyspaced apart as shown to define a longitudinally extending slot 220. Asillustrated, slot 220 may extend from rear end 224 of upper conveyor 188to front end 228 of upper conveyor 188.

Turning now to FIGS. 34 and 35, in alternative embodiments the upperconveyor 188 of conveyor 104 may be substituted by an upper press plateassembly 796. As shown, upper press plate assembly 796 may include oneor more upper press plates 800. A press plate 800 may be formed as aflat plate having a smooth, low friction lower surface 802 positioned inspaced apart relation to lower cutting subassembly 232. Upper pressplate assembly 796 may bear down onto crustacean body parts with upperpress plate(s) 800 as the body parts move along conveyor 104. The lowfriction lower surface 804 of upper press plate(s) 800 may be made ofany suitable material(s) such as stainless steel, which may beoptionally treated or coated to further reduce frictional resistance tothe sliding of crustacean body parts below.

Still referring to FIGS. 34 and 35, conveyor 104 may include a pluralityof upper press plates 800 arranged in series. In the illustratedembodiment, conveyor 104 includes a first upper press plate 800 apositioned upstream a second upper press plate 800 b. In alternativeembodiments, conveyor 104 may include just one upper press plate 800, orconveyor 104 may include three or more press plates 800. Upper pressplate 800 may be vertically movable and biased downwardly for holding acrustacean body part moving along conveyor 104. Upper press plate 800may be biased downwardly in any suitable manner. In the illustratedexample, upper press plate 800 is connected to an upper frame 816 byguides 820. Guides 820 may be slidable vertically relative to upperframe 816 to permit vertical movement of upper press plate 800 relativeto upper frame 816. Linear coil springs 824 may be interposed betweenupper frame 816 and upper press plate 800 to resiliently bias the upperpress plate 800 downwardly toward lower conveyor 136. For example, coilspring 824 may be positioned collinearly with guides 820.

Upper press plate 800 includes an upstream portion 804 and a downstreamportion 808. Downstream press plate portion 808 may be orientedsubstantially in parallel with lower conveyor 136 (e.g. horizontally).This may permit a crustacean body part held below the upper press plate800 to slide along the upper press plate 800 as the lower conveyor 136moves the crustacean body part downstream. Upstream press plate portion804 may be formed as a ramp angled away from lower conveyor 136. In use,upstream press plate portion 804 may ride a crustacean body part as thebody part moves downstream, whereby the upper press plate 800 may beurged to move vertically against the bias of spring 824. This may permitupper press plate 800 to accommodate crustacean body parts of differentsizes.

Cutting Assembly

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4. In some embodiments, processingapparatus 100 may include a cutting assembly 108 for cutting lengthwisecuts (i.e. incisions) through the shell of a crustacean body part 124.Preferably, the cutting assembly 108 controls the cutting depth to avoidcutting too far into the meat below the shell. Cutting assembly 108 mayform cuts along any portion of the crustacean body part 124. Forexample, cutting assembly 108 may form lengthwise cuts along the lateralsides, the upper, and/or the lower sides of a crustacean body part 124.

In the illustrated example, cutting assembly 108 includes lower andupper cutting subassemblies 232 and 236. As shown, lower cuttingsubassembly 232 may be positioned below upper surface 156 of lowerconveyor 136 for cutting a lower side of a crustacean body part 124, andupper cutting subassembly 232 may be positioned above a lower surface238 of upper conveyor 188 for cutting an upper side of the crustaceanbody part 124. As used herein and in the claims, “lower side” and “upperside” of a crustacean body part 124 mean the side of the crustacean bodypart 124 that is facing downwardly or upwardly, respectively, when thecrustacean body part 124 is supported on the conveyor 104. For clarity,these terms do not refer to any specific physiology of the crustaceanbody part 124.

In some embodiments, cutting assembly 108 may include lower cuttingsubassembly 232 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), or upper cutting subassembly 236(see FIGS. 7 and 8), or both lower and upper cutting subassemblies 232and 236. Alternatively or in addition, cutting assembly 108 may includeone or more cutting subassemblies positioned laterally of conveyors 136and 188 for cutting lateral side(s) of the crustacean body part 124. Insome embodiments, cutting assembly 108 may include a plurality of uppercutting subassemblies 236, a plurality of lower cutting assemblies 232,or both.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, conveyor 104 may include a region 240for supporting a crustacean body part 124. Region 240 is a volume ofspace, which can be occupied by a crustacean body part 124 supported onconveyor 104, where the crustacean body part 124 can be cut by cuttingassembly 108.

Lower Cutting Subassembly

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4. In some embodiments, cuttingassembly 108 may include a lower cutting subassembly 232. As shown,lower cutting subassembly 232 may include a blade 244 for cutting theshell of a crustacean body part 124. Blade 244 may be movable between astorage position (see FIG. 3) in which the blade 244 is withdrawn from(i.e. positioned outside of) the region 240, and an engaged position(FIG. 4) in which the blade 244 is positioned inside the region 240 forcutting the shell of a crustacean body part 124 supported on theconveyor 104. As exemplified, blade 244 may be wholly positioned belowupper surface 156 in the storage position, and a portion of blade 244may extend above upper surface 156 in the engaged position.

Blade 244 may be movable between the storage position and the engagedposition in any suitable manner. Preferably, lower cutting subassembly232 provides selective (i.e. active) control over the position of blade244. For example, lower cutting subassembly 108 may include one or moreof a motor, or piston cylinder coupled to blade 244 and which may beactuated to extend or retract blade 244 into or out of the region 240.This may permit blade 244 to be moved into the engaged positionextending above upper surface 156 when a crustacean body part 124 hasmoved into region 240, and withdrawn below upper surface 156 into thestorage position in between crustacean body parts 124. This may alsopermit blade 244 to be moved into the engaged position for cutting onlya predetermined portion of a crustacean body part 124 (e.g. only theknuckle of a body part 124 containing a knuckle and claw), andafterwards withdrawn to the storage position.

In the illustrated example, lower cutting subassembly 232 includes anactuator 248 drivingly coupled to blade 244. Actuator 248 may be anelectric device, hydraulic device, or more preferably a pneumatic devicefor providing active control over the position of blade 244, and overthe pressure (and/or force) exerted by blade 244 against the shell of acrustacean body part 124.

Preferably, actuator 248 is a fluidic device (e.g. hydraulic orpneumatic) and more preferably a pneumatic device. A pneumatic devicemay provide a resilient spring effect on account of the compressibilityof the gas actuating the pneumatic control element in the device. Thismay help to mitigate the risk of actuator 248 exerting blade 244 againstthe shell of body part 124 with an excess of pressure (and/or force)(e.g. which may cut too far into the meat of the body part 124 thuscompromising the integrity of the meat). In effect, this may help toimprove the resolution of the pressure (and/or force) control over blade244.

In some embodiments, actuator 248 may include a piston cylinder 252directly or indirectly coupled to blade 244 for moving the blade 244between the storage and engaged positions. Hereafter, actuator 248 willbe referred to as pneumatic device 248, however, it will be appreciatedthat a hydraulic or electric device can also be used.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9-12. As exemplified, pneumatic device248 may include a lever arm 256 pivotably mounted about a pivot axis ofrotation 260. As shown, lever arm 256 may connect piston cylinder 252 toblade 244. In use, piston cylinder 252 may be selectively extended andretracted to pivot the lever arm 256 about pivot axis 260 for movingblade 244 between the storage and engaged positions. In the illustratedexample, axis 260 is substantially horizontal, such that lever arm 256moves in a substantially vertical plane. In alternative embodiments,axis 260 may extend at a (non-zero) angle to horizontal, such that leverarm 256 moves in a plane angled to vertical.

Piston cylinder 252 and blade 244 may be connected to lever arm 256 inany suitable fashion. As exemplified, piston cylinder 252 may include afirst end 264 pivotally connected (e.g. by a pin joint as shown oranother suitable articulating connection) to lever arm 256, and a secondend 268 pivotably connected (e.g. by a pin joint as shown or anothersuitable articulating connection) to a fixed-position mounting bracket272 (or another fixed support of apparatus 100).

Blade 244 may be any suitable cutting blade, such as a rotary blade (asshown), or a reciprocating blade for example. As illustrated, blade 244may be mounted to lever arm 256 by a blade axle 276 for rotation about ablade axis of rotation 280. In use, lower cutting subassembly 232 maydrive blade 244 to rotate with blade axle 276 about blade axis 280.Blade axis 280 and blade axle 276 may be substantially horizontallyaligned as shown such that blade 244 is substantially verticallyoriented and rotatable in a substantially vertical plane. In alternativeembodiments (not shown), blade axis of rotation 280 and blade axle 276may be aligned at a (non-zero) angle to horizontal such that blade 244is aligned at a (non-zero) angle to vertical and rotatable in a plane ata (non-zero) angle to vertical.

Lever arm 256 may be pivotally mounted for rotation about pivot axis 260in any suitable manner. In the illustrated example, lever arm 256includes bearings 284 rotationally mounted to a drive shaft 288 forrotation about pivot axis 260. As illustrated, pivot axis 260 may beco-extensive with drive shaft 288. Piston cylinder 252 and blade 244 maybe connected to lever arm 256 on opposite sides of pivot axis 260 asshown, or on the same side of pivot axis 260. Further, piston cylinder252 may be positioned below lever arm 256 as shown such that extendingpiston cylinder 252 raises the connected portion of lever arm 256, orabove lever arm 256 such that retracting piston cylinder 252 raises theconnected portion of lever arm 256.

Blade 244 may be driven to rotate about blade axis 280 in any suitablefashion. In the illustrated example, drive shaft 288 is drivinglycoupled to blade 244 for driving blade 244 to rotate. As shown, anindirect drive belt 292 may connect drive shaft 288 to blade axle 276. Amotor 290 may rotate drive shaft 288 for rotating drive belt 292, whichrotates blade axle 276 and blade 244. Drive belt 292 may be any suitabledrive belt or chain, and may be connected to drive shaft 288 and bladeaxle 276 in any suitable fashion. As exemplified, drive belt 292 may bemounted to a first drive gear 296 on drive shaft 288, and to a seconddrive gear 300 on blade axle 276. In alternative embodiments, blade 244may be directly driven by motor 290.

In one aspect, using a pivotally mounted lever arm 256 to connect pistoncylinder 252 to blade 244 as shown may simplify the drive connection toblade 244. Lever arm 256 may provide a constant distance between driveshaft 288 and blade axle 276, for connection by a drive belt 292.Further, this configuration may permit a plurality of pneumatic devices248 to share a common drive shaft 288 as shown. This may permit multipleblades 244 to be driven by a common motor 290. As illustrated, the leverarm 256 of each pneumatic device 248 may be pivoted independently of theother pneumatic device 248.

In the illustrated example, apparatus 100 includes two lower cuttingsubassemblies 232 which share a common drive shaft 288. Each lowercutting subassembly 232 as shown includes a blade 244 that ispositionable independently of the blade 244 of the other lower cuttingsubassembly 232. In alternative embodiments, apparatus 100 may includejust one lower cutting subassembly 232, or three or more lower cuttingsubassemblies 232. Further, any two or more lower cutting subassemblies232 may share a common drive shaft 288 driven by a common motor 290, ordifferent subassemblies 232 may be mounted to different drive shafts 288driven by different motors 290. The former case may provide a simplerand more compact design, whereas the latter case may permit onesubassembly 232 to be taken offline (e.g. for repair or replacement)without interrupting the operation of the other subassembly 232.

Lower cutting subassemblies 232 may be secured in place in any suitablemanner. For example, mounting brackets 304 may join drive shaft 288 to asupport element of apparatus 100.

Piston cylinder 252 may be any suitable piston cylinder known in theart. In the illustrated example, piston cylinder 252 includes a cylinder308 and a rod 312 which can be selectively extended and retracted fromcylinder 308. Cylinder 308 is shown including first and second valves316 and 320, which may be fluidly connected (e.g. by hoses, not shown)to a pressurized gas supply (not shown). In use, controller 116 (seeFIG. 1) may selectively direct air from the pressurized air supply intovalve 316 to retract rod 312 into cylinder 308 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and9) or into valve 320 to extend rod 312 out of cylinder 308 (as shown inFIGS. 4 and 10).

Controller 116 may control the movement of blade 244 between the engagedposition and the storage position. Preferably, controller 116 controlsthe extension and retraction of piston cylinder 252 for moving blade 244between the engaged and storage positions. In the illustrated example,retracting piston cylinder 252 (i.e. retracting rod 312 into cylinder308) may move blade 244 through slot 184 into the engaged position (i.e.into region 240) for cutting into the shell of a crustacean body part124 supported on conveyor 104 in region 240 (see FIGS. 1 and 3).Similarly, extending piston cylinder 252 (i.e. extending rod 312 out ofcylinder 308) may withdraw blade 244 from region 240 into the storageposition (see FIG. 4).

Upper Cutting Subassembly

Reference is now made to FIGS. 13-19. In some embodiments, cuttingassembly 108 may include an upper cutting subassembly 236. As shown,upper cutting subassembly 236 may include a blade 324 for cutting theshell of a crustacean body part 124. Blade 324 may be movable between astorage position (see FIGS. 14, 16, and 18) in which the blade 324 iswithdrawn from (i.e. positioned outside of) the region 240 (see FIG.16), and an engaged position (see FIGS. 15, 17, and 19) in which theblade 324 is positioned inside the region 240 (see FIG. 17) for cuttingthe shell of a crustacean body part 124 supported on conveyor 104. Asexemplified, blade 324 may be wholly positioned above lower surface 238in the storage position, and a portion of blade 324 may extend belowlower surface 238 in the engaged position.

Blade 324 may be movable between the storage position and the engagedposition in any suitable manner. Preferably, upper cutting subassembly236 provides selective (i.e. active) control over the position of blade324. For example, upper cutting subassembly 108 may include one or moreof a motor, or piston cylinder coupled to blade 324 and which may beactuated to extend or retract blade 324 into or out of the region 240.This may permit blade 324 to be moved into the engaged position when acrustacean body part 124 has moved into region 240, and withdrawn to thestorage position in between crustacean body parts 124. This may alsopermit blade 324 to be moved into the engaged position for cutting onlya predetermined portion of a crustacean body part 124 (e.g. only theknuckle of a body part 124 containing a knuckle and claw), andafterwards withdrawn to the storage position.

In the illustrated example, upper cutting subassembly 236 includes anactuator 328 drivingly coupled to blade 324. Actuator 328 may be anelectric device, hydraulic device, or more preferably a pneumatic devicefor providing active control over the position of blade 324, and overthe pressure (and/or force) exerted by blade 324 against the shell of acrustacean body part 124.

Preferably, actuator 328 is a fluidic device (e.g. hydraulic orpneumatic) and more preferably a pneumatic device. A pneumatic devicemay provide a resilient spring effect on account of the compressibilityof the gas actuating the pneumatic control element in the device. Thismay help to mitigate the risk of actuator 328 exerting blade 324 againstthe shell of body part 124 with an excess of pressure (and/or force)(e.g. which may cut into the meat of the body part 124). In effect, thismay help to improve the resolution of the pressure (and/or force)control over blade 324.

In some embodiments, actuator 328 may include a piston cylinder 330directly or indirectly coupled to blade 324 for moving the blade 324between the storage and engaged positions. Hereafter, actuator 328 willbe referred to as pneumatic device 328, however, it will be appreciatedthat a hydraulic or electric device can also be used.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 14-19. As exemplified, pneumatic device328 may include a lever arm 332 pivotably mounted about a pivot axis ofrotation 336. As shown, lever arm 332 may connect piston cylinder 330 toblade 324. In use, piston cylinder 330 may be selectively extended andretracted to pivot the lever arm 332 about pivot axis 336 for movingblade 324 between the storage and engaged positions. In the illustratedexample, axis 336 is substantially horizontal, such that lever arm 332moves in a substantially vertical plane. In alternative embodiments,axis 336 may extend at a (non-zero) angle to horizontal, such that leverarm 332 moves in a plane angled to vertical.

Piston cylinder 330 and blade 324 may be connected to lever arm 332 inany suitable fashion. As exemplified, piston cylinder 330 may include afirst end 340 pivotally connected (e.g. by a pin joint as shown oranother suitable articulating connection) to lever arm 332, and a secondend 344 pivotably connected (e.g. by a pin joint as shown or anothersuitable articulating connection) to a fixed-position mounting bracket348 (or another fixed support of apparatus 100).

Blade 324 may be any suitable cutting blade, such as a rotary blade (asshown), or a reciprocating blade for example. As illustrated, blade 324may be mounted to lever arm 332 by a blade axle 352 for rotation about ablade axis of rotation 356. In use, upper cutting subassembly 236 maydrive blade 324 to rotate with blade axle 352 about blade axis 356.Blade axis 356 and blade axle 352 may be substantially horizontallyaligned as shown such that blade 324 is substantially verticallyoriented and rotatable in a substantially vertical plane. In alternativeembodiments (not shown), blade axis of rotation 356 and blade axle 352may be aligned at a (non-zero) angle to horizontal such that blade 324is aligned at a (non-zero) angle to vertical and rotatable in a plane ata (non-zero) angle to vertical.

Lever arm 332 may be pivotally mounted for rotation about pivot axis 336in any suitable manner. In the illustrated example, lever arm 332 isbearings 360 rotationally mounted to a drive shaft 364 for rotationabout pivot axis 336. As illustrated, pivot axis 336 may be co-extensivewith drive shaft 364. Piston cylinder 330 and blade 324 may be connectedto lever arm 332 on the same side of pivot axis 336 as shown, or onopposite sides of pivot axis 336. Further, piston cylinder 330 may bepositioned above lever arm 332 as shown such that extending pistoncylinder 330 lowers the connected portion of lever arm 332, or belowlever arm 332 such that retracting piston cylinder 330 lowers theconnected portion of lever arm 332.

Blade 324 may be driven to rotate about blade axis 356 in any suitablefashion. In the illustrated example, drive shaft 364 is drivinglycoupled to blade 324 for driving blade 324 to rotate. As shown, anindirect drive belt 368 may connect drive shaft 364 to blade axle 352. Amotor 370 may rotate drive shaft 364 for rotating drive belt 368, whichrotates blade axle 352 and blade 324. Drive belt 368 may be any suitabledrive belt or chain, and may be connected to drive shaft 364 and bladeaxle 352 in any suitable fashion. As exemplified, drive belt 368 may bemounted to a first drive gear 372 on drive shaft 364, and to a seconddrive gear 376 on blade axle 352. In alternative embodiments, blade 324may be directly driven by motor 370.

In one aspect, using a pivotally mounted lever arm 332 to connect pistoncylinder 330 to blade 324 as shown may simplify the drive connection toblade 324. Lever arm 332 may provide a constant distance between driveshaft 364 and blade axle 352, for connection by a drive belt 368.Further, this configuration may permit a plurality of pneumatic devices328 to share a common drive shaft 364 as shown. This may permit multipleblades 324 to be driven by a common motor 370. As illustrated, the leverarm 332 of each pneumatic device 328 may be pivoted independently of theother pneumatic device 328.

In the illustrated example, apparatus 100 includes two upper cuttingsubassemblies 236 which share a common drive shaft 364. Each uppercutting subassembly 236 as shown includes a blade 324 that ispositionable independently of the blade 324 of the other upper cuttingsubassembly 236. In alternative embodiments, apparatus 100 may includejust one upper cutting subassembly 236, or three or more upper cuttingsubassemblies 236. Further, any two or more upper cutting subassemblies236 may share a common drive shaft 364 driven by a common motor 370, ordifferent subassemblies 236 may be mounted to different drive shafts 364driven by different motors 370. The former case may provide a simplerand more compact design, whereas the latter case may permit onesubassembly 236 to be taken offline (e.g. for repair or replacement)without interrupting the operation of the other subassembly 236.

Upper cutting subassemblies 236 may be secured in place in any suitablemanner. For example, mounting brackets 380 may join drive shaft 364 to asupport element 382 of apparatus 100.

Piston cylinder 330 may be any suitable piston cylinder known in theart. In the illustrated example, piston cylinder 330 includes a cylinder384 and a rod 388 which can be selectively extended and retracted fromcylinder 384. Cylinder 384 is shown including first and second valves392 and 396, which may be fluidly connected (e.g. by hoses, not shown)to a pressurized gas supply (e.g. a pump, not shown). In use, controller116 (see FIG. 1) may selectively direct air from the pressurized gassupply into valve 392 to retract rod 388 into cylinder 384 (as shown inFIGS. 14, 16, and 18) or into valve 396 to extend rod 388 out ofcylinder 384 (as shown in FIGS. 15, 17, and 19).

Controller 116 may control the movement of blade 324 between the engagedposition and the storage position. Preferably, controller 116 controlsthe extension and retraction of piston cylinder 330 for moving blade 324between the engaged and storage positions. In the illustrated example,retracting piston cylinder 330 (i.e. retracting rod 388 into cylinder384) may move blade 324 through slot 220 (see FIG. 13) into the engagedposition (i.e. into region 240) for cutting into the shell of acrustacean body part 124 supported on conveyor 104 in region 240 (seeFIGS. 15, 17, and 19). Similarly, extending piston cylinder 330 (i.e.extending rod 388 out of cylinder 384) may withdraw blade 324 fromregion 240 into the storage position (see FIGS. 14, 16, and 18).

Cutting Depth

Reference is now made to FIG. 20. A crustacean body part 124 may consistin relevant part a shell 400 surrounding meat 404 contained inside theshell 400. In some areas, the meat 404 may be bonded to the shell 400 bynatural musculature adhesion, and in other areas there may be a gap 408between the shell 400 and the meat 404.

In some embodiment, cutting assembly 108 may be configured to form oneor more cuts through the shell 400 of a crustacean body part 124.Preferably, the cutting depth is greater than or equal to the shellthickness, and yet sufficiently shallow to avoid cutting too far intothe meat 404 below the shell 400. This may require precise control overthe cutting depth of blade 244 into the shell 400 of the crustacean bodypart 124.

The cutting depth of blade 244 may depend on a number of factorsincluding shell properties and operating parameters. Shell propertiesmay include shell hardness and shell thickness. Operating parameters mayinclude conveyance speed, blade speed, and blade force. Preferably, oneor more operating parameters of apparatus 100 is controlled bycontroller 116 to achieve a cutting depth of at least the thickness 412of shell 400, so that blade 244 cuts clean through the shell 400 withoutcutting too far into the meat 404.

All else being equal, hard shells may be more difficult to cut throughthan soft shells. Similarly, thick shells may be more difficult to cutthrough than thin shells, all else being equal. Accordingly, shells withhigh hardness and/or high thickness may require one or more of a slowerconveyance speed, a higher blade speed, or higher blade force to cutclean through the shell.

Shell hardness and thickness may vary across different crustaceanspecies (e.g. crabs, or lobsters), different exoskeletal status (e.g.hard-shell, or soft-shell), different body parts (e.g. claws orknuckles), different seasons (e.g. winter or summer), different sourcelocations (e.g. PEI or Maine), and different crustacean sizes (e.g.market, or canners). In some embodiments, apparatus 100 may accommodatea plurality of different shell thicknesses and hardnesses.

It will be appreciated that for a given shell thickness and hardness,there is small range of operational parameters (conveyance speed, bladespeed, and blade force) that will cut clean through thickness 412 of theshell 400 without cutting too far into the meat 404. For example, for agiven conveyance speed and blade speed, there exists a small range ofblade forces that will provide a cutting depth of equal to or slightlygreater than shell thickness 412. Any less, and the blade 244 or 324will not cut clean through the shell 400. Any more, and the blade 244 or324 may cut too far into the meat 404 which may compromise the integrityof the meat inside. A small margin for error may be provided where thereis a gap 408 between the shell 400 and the meat 404. However, becausecrustaceans are organic creatures, there will always be some variance inthe shell hardness, even among similar products (species, exoskeletalstatus, body part, season, source location, and crustacean size).Accordingly, it may be difficult to consistently cut clean through theshell 400 without cutting too far into the meat 404 for a given batch ofcrustacean body parts 124.

In some cases, it may be desirable to score the shell to a depth lessthan the thickness of the shell.

Blade Guards

Reference is now made to FIGS. 20 and 21. In some embodiments, one ormore blade guards 416 may be attached to a blade 420 of cutting assembly108 (e.g. blade 244 of an upper cutting subassembly 236, or blade 324 ofa lower cutting subassembly 236). The blade guard(s) 416 may increasethe margin for error in the processing parameters (conveyance speed,blade speed, and blade force) that will cut clean through thickness 412of the shell 400 without cutting too far into the meat 404. Blade guards416 may provide an abutment surface which contacts shell 400 when blade420 reaches a predetermined cutting depth to resist deeper penetrationinto the body part 124. This may mitigate the risk of shell 400 cuttingtoo far into the meat 404, thus permitting cutting assembly 108 toaccommodate some variance in shell hardness.

Blade guard 416 may take any suitable form. In the illustrated example,blade guard 416 is formed as a disk coaxially mounted to a lateral sideof blade 420 for movement with blade 420. Blade guard 416 may rotatesynchronously with blade 420, may rotate at a different speed than blade420, or may not rotate at all. As exemplified, a radius 424 of bladeguard 416 is less than a radius 428 of blade 420. The difference betweenradius 424 and 428 is the cutting depth 432. For scoring the shell, thecutting depth 432 may be as little as 0.1 mm. For cutting the body partright in half, the cutting depth 432 may be up to 50 mm or more. Forcutting the shell, cutting depth 432 is preferably between 1 mm and 13mm, and more preferably between 2 mm and 10 mm. Blade 420 may be urgedagainst shell 400 of a crustacean body part 124 until cutting depth 432is obtained whereby blade guard 416 may abut shell 400 to resist furtherpenetration. In this regard, the cutting depth 432 may be maintained inspite of some excess in operational parameters (e.g. excess blade rotaryspeed or blade force). Thus, some variation in shell hardness may beaccommodated by selecting operational parameters that can accommodatethe hardest expected shell of a given batch of crustacean body parts124, even though these parameters exceed that required for the softestexpected shell.

As exemplified, blade guard 416 has a peripheral thickness 436.Thickness 436 may provide an abutment surface 440 spaced radiallyinboard of the peripheral edge 444 of blade 420 by cutting depth 432.Abutment surface 440 may contact shell 400 to resist shell penetrationgreater than cutting depth 432. It will be appreciated that theresistance that blade guard 416 can provide depends in part on thestrength of the shell 400. Any excess blade force is supported by bladeguard 416 on shell 400. Too much excess blade force will cause shell 400to crack below blade guard 416. The magnitude of excess blade force thatcan be supported by blade guard 416 before shell 400 cracks may dependon the thickness 436 of abutment surface 440. However, because thesurface profile of shell 400 is variable, a thick blade assembly (e.g.blade 420 in combination with blade guard 416) may produce inconsistentcutting depths. Accordingly, it is preferable to use the thickestpossible blade guard(s) 416 that can produce consistent cutting depthsfor a given batch of crustacean body parts 124.

In the illustrated example, two blade guards 416 are coupled to blade420. Preferably, each blade guard 416 has a thickness 412 of between 1mm and 10 mm, and more preferably between 3 mm and 6 mm. In otherembodiments, only one blade guard 416 may be coupled to blade 420. Instill other embodiments, there may be no blade guards coupled to blade420.

Preferably, blade guard 416 is removably mounted beside blade 420. Thismay permit blade guards of different radial dimensions to be selectivelymounted beside blade 420 for cutting to a particular cutting depth. Theblade assembly (i.e. blade 420 and one or more blade guards 416) maythus be customized for a particular batch of crustacean body parts 124,which share a common shell thickness.

Multiple Cutting Subassemblies

Reference is now made to FIGS. 35 and 36. In some embodiments, cuttingassembly 108 may include a plurality of lower cutting subassemblies 232,a plurality of upper cutting subassemblies 236, or both. In theillustrated embodiment, cutting assembly 108 includes a pair of upstreamlower and upper cutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a, and a pair ofdownstream lower and upper cutting subassemblies 232 b and 236 b. Thismay permit a crustacean body part to be cut with multiple passes. Forexample, a crustacean body part may be cut first by the upstream cuttingsubassemblies 232 a and 236 a, and second by the downstreamsubassemblies 232 b and 236 b.

It will be appreciated that the blades 420 and associated blade guards416 of the upstream cutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a may be thesame or different (i.e. same or different diameter) from the blades 420and associated blade guards 416 of the downstream cutting subassemblies232 b and 236 b. For example, a crustacean body part may be a limbincluding a claw connected to a knuckle. The blades 420 of the upstreamcutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a may have blade guards 416 thatdefine a first cutting depth that is greater than a second cutting depthof downstream blades 420 defined by the blade guards 416 of thedownstream cutting subassemblies 232 b and 236 b (or vice versa). Thismay permit the upstream cutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a to cut toa different depth than the downstream cutting subassemblies 232 b and236 b (e.g. more or less deeply).

For example, the upstream cutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a may havea greater cutting depth and apply low cutting pressure to the claw ofthe body part (e.g. to cut only the elastic holding the claw shut andnot through the shell), and apply high cutting pressure to the knuckleto cut deep through the knuckle shell. Next, the downstream cuttingsubassemblies 232 b and 236 b may make a shallow cut through the clawshell, and retract to avoid cutting the knuckle shell (which was alreadycut by the upstream cutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a).

In some embodiments, the upstream cutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a,and the downstream cutting subassemblies 232 b and 236 b may beconfigured to cut different crustacean body parts and/or crustacean bodyparts of different sizes. For example, the upstream cuttingsubassemblies 232 a and 236 a may be activated only to cut crustaceanbody parts of a first type (e.g. claws) or size (e.g. by weight and/ordimensional measurement), and the downstream cutting subassemblies 232 band 236 b may be activated only to cut crustacean body parts of a secondtype (e.g. knuckles) or size. This may permit apparatus 100 to process abatch of crustacean body parts that includes a mixture of different bodypart types or sizes, where the different body part types or sizes havedifferent shell densities and/or thickness.

For example, the upstream cutting subassemblies 232 a and 236 a may beconfigured with blades 420 and blade guards 416 that define cuttingdepths suitable for the first body part type or size, and the downstreamsubassemblies 232 b and 236 b may be configured with blades 420 andblade guards 416 that define different cutting depths suitable for thesecond body part types or sizes. Alternatively, or in addition, theupstream and downstream cutting subassemblies 232 and 236 may beconfigured to operate with different operational parameters (e.g.cutting speed, cutting force, etc.) suitable for the respective typesand/or sizes of crustacean body parts cut by those particular cuttingsubassemblies.

Blade Geometry

Reference is now made to FIG. 20. In some embodiments, cutting assembly108 may include one or more circular rotary blades 420 (e.g. blade 244of lower cutting subassembly 232, or blade 324 of upper cuttingsubassembly 232) having a plurality of teeth 448. Preferably, teeth 448of such blade(s) 420 are shaped to mitigate the embedding of shellshards into meat 404 of the crustacean body part 124 during cutting.

As exemplified, blade 420 may include a plurality of teeth 448, eachtooth 448 extending from a leading edge 452 across an arcuate outer edge456 to a trailing edge 460. In use, leading edge 452 may make firstcontact with shell 400 as crustacean body part 124 is carried in adownstream direction 128. As illustrated, leading edge 452 preferablyforms an acute angle with outer edge 456 to face away from body part 124during cutting. Preferably, the angle between leading edge 452 and outeredge 456 is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, and more preferablybetween 40 degrees and 50 degrees. This may permit leading edge 452 todrive shards of shell 400 away from body part 124 and meat 404 duringcutting. In turn, this may help mitigate against embedding shell shardsand other debris into meat 404.

Blade 420 may have any suitable number of teeth 448. In the illustratedexample, blade 420 includes 12 teeth 448. In alternative embodiments,blade 420 may include between 5 and 50 teeth.

Blade 420 may have a small edge thickness to minimize meat damage if theblade 420 cuts into the meat. Preferably, blade 420 has an edgethickness of less than 0.125 inches, more preferably less than 0.050inches, and most preferably less than 0.035 inches.

Cracking Assembly

Reference is now made to FIGS. 22-25. In some embodiments, apparatus 100may include a shell cracking assembly 112. Shell cracking assembly 112may be positioned downstream of cutting assembly 108 as shown (see FIG.1), or upstream of cutting assembly 108. Cracking assembly 112 may beoperable to form a lateral crack in a shell, which circumscribes atleast a portion of the body part 124. This may be especially preferredfor crustacean claws, the meat inside which may be easily accessed afterforming a circumscribing crack in the shell.

Cracking assembly 112 may include a retaining member for securing thecrustacean body part 124 in position during processing, and one or morepiercing members for creating and propagating cracks in the shell of thebody part 124.

The crustacean body part 124 is preferable secured in position duringcracking. Cracking assembly 112 may include any suitable retainingmember. Preferably, the retaining member is controllable for selectivelysecuring the body part 124 during processing and afterwards releasingthe body part 124. In the illustrated example, cracking assembly 112includes a clamp 466 for clamping body part 124 against a base 464. Base464 may be any surface for supporting body part 124. For example, base464 may be a stationary table, or may be lower conveyor 136.

As exemplified, clamp 466 includes a ram head 468 movable between astorage position (FIG. 22), and an engaged position (FIGS. 23-25). Inthe storage position, ram head 468 is vertically spaced apart from base464 by a distance 472 providing clearance for a body part 124 to bemoved in between ram head 468 and base 464. In the engaged position, ramhead 468 bears down on the body part 124 clamping the body part 124between the ram head 468 and the base 464.

Ram head 468 may be movable between the storage position and the engagedposition by any suitable device. For example, ram head 468 may bedrivingly coupled to a motor or piston cylinder controllable bycontroller 116. In the illustrated embodiment, ram head 468 is directlyconnected to a piston cylinder 476. Piston cylinder 476 may be apneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. As exemplified, piston cylinder 476includes a cylinder 480 and a piston rod 484. Ram head 468 may beconnected to a distal end of piston rod 484. As shown, cylinder 480 mayinclude first and second valves 488 and 492. Valves 488 and 492 may eachbe connected to a fluid source (not shown, e.g. hydraulic oil tank, orpneumatic pump). Controller 116 may selectively direct fluid from thefluid source to one of valves 488 or 492 for extending and retractingpiston cylinder 480 between the storage and engaged positions. Ram head468 may be rigid or resiliently deformable.

Cracking assembly 112 may include one or more piercing members 496 forpiercing the shell 400 of body part 124 to form an inceptive (i.e.initial) crack in the shell 400, and then rotated to widen the crackcausing the crack to propagate about the circumference of the shell 400.

In the illustrated example, cracking assembly 112 includes two piercingmembers 496, one to pierce each lateral side of the shell 400. Inalternative embodiments, cracking assembly 112 may include just onepiercing member 496 for piercing any side of shell 400, or three or more(e.g. 4, 5, or 6) piercing members 496 for piercing a plurality ofdifferent sides of the shell 400.

Base 466 may include a region 500 for supporting a crustacean body part124. Region 500 is a volume of space, which can be occupied by acrustacean body part 124 supported on base 466, where the crustaceanbody part 124 can be cracked by cracking assembly 112.

Piercing member 496 may be movable between a storage position in whichpiercing member 496 is withdrawn (i.e. spaced apart) from region 500(FIGS. 22 and 23), and an engaged position in which piercing member 496is moved into region 500 for piercing the shell 400 of the crustaceanbody part 124. In the illustrated example, cracking assembly 112includes two laterally opposed piercing members 496. Piercing members496 may be movable from the storage position toward each other to theengaged position, and from the engaged position away from each other tothe storage position.

Piercing members 496 may be movable between the storage position and theengaged position by any suitable device. For example, each piercingmember may be drivingly coupled to a motor or piston cylindercontrollable by controller 116. In the illustrated embodiment, piercingmember 496 may be indirectly connected to a piston cylinder 504. Pistoncylinder 504 may be a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder of any suitabletype. As shown, piercing member 496 may be supported on a rotary shaft508 which extends through a drive block 512. Piston cylinder 504 may beconnected to drive block 512 for moving drive block 512 with rotaryshaft 508 and piercing member 496 in direction 514 toward region 500.Piston cylinder 504 is preferably controllable by controller 116 formoving piercing member 496 between the storage and engaged positions.

Referring to FIG. 25A, each piercing member 496 may include a piercingedge 516 for penetrating the shell 400 of body part 124 in the engagedposition. Piercing edge 516 may have any suitable shape and size. Asillustrated, piercing edge 516 may be a substantially linear edge havinga depth 520 and a length 522. Depth 520 is preferably at least thethickness of the shell 400 where piercing edge 516 will penetrate shell400. This may permit piercing edge 516 to penetrate the full thicknessof the shell 400. Preferably, depth 520 is between 5 mm and 50 mm, andmore preferably between 5 mm and 26 mm. Length 522 is preferably between12 mm and 100 mm, and more preferably between 12 mm and 70 mm. Piercingedge 516, or piercing member 496 may be removable for replacement with adifferent piercing edge 516 or piercing member 496 having a differentdepth 520 and/or length 522 better suited for a particular crustaceanbody part 124.

In some embodiments, piercing edge 516 may be sharpened. This may helppiercing edge 516 to cleanly pierce through shell 400. In alternativeembodiments, piercing edge 516 may be dull. This may help preventpiercing edge 516 from cutting into the meat below the shell 400. Forexample, a dull edge 516 may be able to contact the meat below shell 400without cutting into the meat.

As shown, piercing edge 516 may extend in depth from a proximal end 524connected to a support surface 528 of piercing member 496, to a distalend 532 which makes first contact with shell 400. In the illustratedexample, piercing edge 516 has a thin cross-sectional profile betweenproximal end 524 and distal end 532. In alternative embodiments,piercing edge 516 may have a wedge shaped cross-sectional profile thatis wider at proximal end 524 and transition to a narrow distal end 532.This may permit piercing edge 516 to spread the crack formed by piercingedge 516 as piercing edge 516 is driven through shell 400.

Referring again to FIGS. 22-25, piercing member 496 is preferablyconfigured to propagate the inceptive crack formed from penetratingshell 400 with piercing member 496. In some embodiments, piercing member496 may be rotatable from the engaged position after piercing shell 400to widen the inceptive crack formed from the penetration. This may causethe crack to propagate about the circumference of the shell 400.

Piercing member 496 may be rotatable in any suitable manner. In theillustrated example, piercing member 496 is rotatable on a rotary shaft508 about a twist axis 536 parallel to rotary shaft 508. Axis 536 may besubstantially parallel to direction 514. In alternative embodiments,twist axis 536 may extend at a (non-zero) angle to parallel withdirection 514.

Piercing member 496 may be rotated by any suitable device. For example,piercing member 496 may be drivingly coupled to a motor or pistoncylinder controllable by controller 116 for rotating piercing member 496about twist axis 536. As exemplified, piercing member 496 may beindirectly coupled to a piston cylinder 540 by a lever 544. Pistoncylinder 540 may be a hydraulic or pneumatic piston cylinder. Rotaryshaft 508 may be connected to a first end 548 of lever 544 for rotationtherewith, and piston cylinder 540 may be rotationally coupled to asecond end 552 of lever 544. In use, piston cylinder 540 may extend orretract to move second end 552 of lever 544 about first end 548, therebyrotating rotary shaft 508 and piercing member 496. This is illustratedby example in FIGS. 24 and 25.

FIGS. 22-25 illustrates steps of an exemplary method of cracking theshell 400 of a crustacean body part 124 with cracking assembly 112 inaccordance with at least one embodiment. Beginning with FIG. 22, acrustacean body part 124 may be moved into region 500 of base 464between clamp 466 and piercing members 496. At this point, clamp 466 andpiercing members 496 may be in their storage positions.

Turning to FIG. 23, controller 116 may direct clamp 466 to move to theengaged position to secure crustacean body part 124 in position. Forexample, controller 116 may direct piston cylinder 476 to extend ramhead 468 on to crustacean body part 124, thereby clamping crustaceanbody part 124 between ram head 468 and base 464.

As shown in FIG. 24, controller 116 may direct piercing member 496 tomove to the engaged position to pierce the shell 400 of crustacean bodypart 124. For example, controller 116 may direct piston cylinders 504 tomove piercing members 496 to move toward each other into region 500 fromopposite lateral sides, and pierce opposite lateral sides of shell 400of crustacean body part 124 to each form an inceptive crack in shell400.

Next, in FIG. 25, controller 116 may direct piercing members 496 torotate to widen the inceptive cracks formed from piercing the shell 400,to propagate the cracks laterally about the circumference of the shell400. For example, controller 116 may direct piston cylinders 540 toextend to rotate piercing members 496 about twist axis 536.

Finally, clamp 466 and piercing members 496 may be withdrawn from region500 to their storage positions, releasing the crustacean body part 124.For example, controller 116 may direct piston cylinders 476, 504, and536 to retract.

Sensor

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2. In some embodiments, apparatus100 may include one or more sensors (collectively “a sensor”) fordetecting a size of a crustacean body part 124 supported on conveyor104. Each crustacean body part 124 carried by conveyor 104 may bemeasured by the sensor before passing through cutting and/or crackingassemblies 108 and 112, and the operational parameters of the cuttingand/or cracking assemblies may be adjusted for each crustacean body partbased at least in part on the sensor readings.

In some cases, the shell hardness and thickness of a crustacean bodypart 124 may vary according to size. Preferably, controller 116 iscommunicatively coupled to the sensor for processing the sizeinformation, and configured to direct cutting assembly 104 to operateaccording to one or more operational parameters (e.g. conveyor speed,blade speed, and blade force), and/or to direct cracking assembly 108 tooperate according to one or more operational parameters (e.g. piercingmember force) for that crustacean body part 124 based on the sizeinformation.

In the illustrated example, apparatus 100 includes a sensor 556 formeasuring the size of crustacean body parts 124 carried on conveyor 104.Sensor 556 may be any suitable sensor positioned and directed accordingto the sensor specifications. As used herein and in the claims, the term“sensor” means one or more sensors for measuring the size of acrustacean body part. One suitable sensor may be a Cognex™ CheckerVision Sensor. Sensor 556 may measure any one or more dimensions of acrustacean body part 124, such as width, length, and height.

As exemplified, sensor 556 may be mounted on apparatus 100 facingdownwardly toward conveyor 104 from above. In the illustrated example,sensor 556 is centrally aligned with lower conveyor 136. It will beappreciated that in alternative embodiments, sensor 556 may bedifferently mounted and positioned according to the sensorspecifications. For example, sensor 556 may be instead positioned at alateral side of conveyor 104 facing laterally across upper surface 156.Preferably, sensor 556 is positioned upstream of cutting and/or crackingassemblies 108 and 112 for providing measurement information tocontroller 116 in advance of processing the crustacean body part 124 atcutting and/or cracking assemblies 108 and 112. In some embodiments,apparatus 100 does not include any sensors 556.

Controller

FIG. 26 shows an example schematic of a controller 116. Generally,controller 116 can be a server computer, desktop computer, notebookcomputer, tablet, PDA, smartphone, or another computing device. In atleast one embodiment, controller 116 includes a connection with anetwork 576 such as a wired or wireless connection to the Internet or toa private network. In some cases, network 576 includes other types ofcomputer or telecommunication networks.

In the example shown, controller 116 may include a memory 562, anapplication 564, an output device 566, a display device 568, a secondarystorage device 570, a processor 572, and an input device 574. In someembodiments, controller 116 includes multiple of any one or more ofmemory 562, application 564, output device 566, display device 568,secondary storage device 570, processor 572, and input device 574. Insome embodiments, controller 116 lacks one or more of applications 564,second storage devices 570, network connections, input devices 574,output devices 566, and display devices 568.

Memory 562 can include random access memory (RAM) or similar types ofmemory. Also, in some embodiments, memory 562 stores one or moreapplications 564 for execution by processor 572. Applications 564correspond with software modules including computer executableinstructions to perform processing for the functions and methodsdescribed herein for directing the operation of apparatus 100, and moreparticularly directing the operation of cutting assembly 108 and/orcracking assembly 112. Secondary storage device 570 can include a harddisk drive, floppy disk drive, CD drive, DVD drive, Blu-ray drive, solidstate drive, flash memory or other types of non-volatile data storage.

In some embodiments, controller 116 stores information in a remotestorage device, such as cloud storage, accessible across a network, suchas network 576 or another network. In some embodiments, controller 116stores information distributed across multiple storage devices, such asmemory 562 and secondary storage device 570 (i.e. each of the multiplestorage devices stores a portion of the information and collectively themultiple storage devices store all of the information). Accordingly,storing or retrieving data on a storage device as used herein and in theclaims, means storing or retrieving that data in a local storage device,storing or retrieving that data in a remote storage device, or storingor retrieving that data distributed across multiple storage devices,each of which can be local or remote.

Generally, processor 572 can execute applications, computer readableinstructions or programs. The applications, computer readableinstructions or programs can be stored in memory 562 or in secondarystorage 570, or can be received from remote storage accessible throughnetwork 576, for example. When executed, the applications, computerreadable instructions or programs can configure the processor 572 (ormultiple processors 572, collectively) to perform the acts describedherein with reference to directing the operation of apparatus 100, forexample.

Input device 574 can include any device for entering information intocontroller 116. For example, input device 574 can be a keyboard, keypad, cursor-control device, touch-screen, camera, or microphone. Inputdevice 574 can also include input ports and wireless radios (e.g.Bluetooth®, or 802.11x) for making wired and wireless connections toexternal devices, such as sensors 556, cutting assembly 108, crackingassembly 112, motors, fluid sources, and/or valves, for example.

Display device 568 can include any type of device for presenting visualinformation. For example, display device 568 can be a computer monitor,a flat-screen display, a projector or a display panel.

Output device 566 can include any type of device for presenting a hardcopy of information, such as a printer for example. Output device 566can also include other types of output devices such as speakers, forexample. In at least one embodiment, output device 566 includes one ormore of output ports and wireless radios (e.g. Bluetooth®, or 802.11x)for making wired and wireless connections to external devices, such assensors 556, cutting assembly 108, cracking assembly 112, motors, fluidsources, and/or valves, for example. In some embodiments, input device574 also combines the functionality of an output device 566.

FIG. 26 illustrates one example hardware schematic of a controller 116.In alternative embodiments, controller 116 contains fewer, additional ordifferent components. In addition, although aspects of an implementationof controller 116 are described as being stored in memory, one skilledin the art will appreciate that these aspects can also be stored on orread from other types of computer program products or computer-readablemedia, such as secondary storage devices, including hard disks, floppydisks, CDs, or DVDs; or other forms of RAM or ROM.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 26 and 27. FIG. 27 shows a schematicdiagram of apparatus 100, in accordance with at least one embodiment. Asillustrated, controller 116 may be communicatively coupled to one ormore of conveyor 104, cutting assembly 108, and cracking assembly 112for directing the operation of the same. For example, output device 566of controller 116 may be connected to one or more motors 584 of conveyor104 (e.g. motor 148 of lower conveyor 136, and/or motor 204 of upperconveyor 188) wirelessly or by wire for controlling the conveyance speedof conveyor 104 according to application(s) 564.

Alternatively, or in addition, controller 116 may be communicativelycoupled to a fluid source 580 for directing the actuation of cuttingassembly 108. For example, an output device 566 of controller 116 may becommunicatively connected to one or more valves, or pumps by wire orwirelessly for controlling one or more of the volume and pressure offluid directed to piston cylinders in cutting assembly 108. This maypermit controller 116 to control actuation timing and blade force ofcutting assembly 108. In some embodiments, controller 116 may becommunicatively coupled to one or more motors 588 of cutting assembly108 for controlling the timing and speed of the motors 588. This maypermit controller 116 to control actuating timing and rotary blade speedof cutting assembly 108.

Alternatively, or in addition, controller 116 may be communicativelycoupled to a fluid source 592 (which may be the same as fluid source 580or a different fluid source) for directing the actuation of crackingassembly 112. For example, an output device 566 of controller 116 may becommunicatively connected to one or more valves, or pumps by wire orwirelessly for controlling one or more of the volume and pressure offluid directed to piston cylinders in cracking assembly 112. This maypermit controller 116 to control actuation timing, clamping force, andpiercing force of cracking assembly 112.

Reference is now made to FIG. 28, which shows an exemplary method ofprocessing a crustacean body part in accordance with at least oneembodiment. At 604, controller 116 may receive or access crustaceaninformation. The crustacean information preferably identifiescharacteristics or properties of the crustacean body parts to beprocessed. For example, crustacean information may include one or moreof species, exoskeletal status (hard-shell, or soft-shell), body part,season, source location, and crustacean size. The crustacean informationmay be entered or selected with an input device 574 of controller 116.Alternatively, or in addition, some or all of the crustacean informationmay be retrieved from one or more of local storage (e.g. memory 562 orstorage device 570), remote storage, or network 576.

Tables 1a-1f illustrate exemplary crustacean information:

TABLE 1a Crustacean Species Crustacean Species Lobster (generic) Crab(generic) Clawed Lobster Spiny Lobster

TABLE 1b Exosckeletal Status Exoskeletal Status Soft-shell Hard-shell

TABLE 1c Body Part Body Part Claw Knuckle Knuckle with horn(horn ispartial claw shell attached to knuckle) Claw and Knuckle Tail Leg

TABLE 1d Season Season Summer Winter Spring/Fall

TABLE 1e Source Location Source Location Maine, USA PEI, Canada NoviaScotia, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Alaska, Seattle (Crab) NorthAustralia Florida, Carolina's. Portland, etc . . . all eastern seaboard!Brazil New Zealand Pacific Coast region Altantic Coast region

TABLE 1f Crustacean Size Crustacean Size Canner (175 g-450 g) Market(>450 g) Value - Average Weight (g) Value - Average Length (mm)

At 608, controller 116 may receive or access processing options. Theprocessing options may identify one or more of whether to cut, cutlength, side(s) to cut, and whether to crack.

For example, the processing options may identify that a lobster claw becracked; cut along the top and/or bottom sides along the claw; orcracked and cut along the top and/or bottom sides of the knuckle. Inanother example, the processing options may identify that a crab leg becut along the top and/or bottom sides, for the full length, and withvarying depths along the length. In another example, the processingoptions may specify that a knuckle or knuckle with horn be cut on thetop and/or bottom sides for the full length.

The processing options may be entered or selected with an input device574 of controller 116. Alternatively, or in addition, some or all of theprocessing options may be retrieved from one or more of local storage(e.g. memory 562 or storage device 570), remote storage, or network 576.

Tables 2a-2d illustrate exemplary processing options:

TABLE 2a Whether To Cut Whether To Cut Yes No

TABLE 2b Cut Length Cut Length Full Length (end to end) Value - length(% or mm) Value - cut start (% or mm) and cut stop (% or mm) Claw onlyof body part containing claw and knuckle Knuckle only of body partcontaining claw and knuckle Leg Tails Knuckles with Horn

TABLE 2c Side(s) to Cut Side(s) to Cut Bottom Top Bottom and Top None

TABLE 2d Whether to Crack Whether to Crack Yes No

At 612, controller 116 may receive size information from sensor 556. Thesize information is preferably indicative of one or more size dimensionof a crustacean body part 124, such as width(s), length(s), and/orheight(s). The size information may be used as feedback for thecontroller 116 to dynamically change the operational parameters (e.g.blade force, blade speed, or conveyor speed) to produce the intendedresults.

In some embodiments, for each set or subset of crustacean informationvalue combinations, controller 116 may store two or more size valueranges (e.g. small, medium large). Controller 116 may identify the setor subset of crustacean information value combinations to which thereceived crustacean information belongs, and then determine to which ofthe corresponding size value ranges the received size informationbelongs. In alternative embodiments, controller 116 does not receivesize information. For example, apparatus 100 may not include any sensors556, or apparatus 100 may include sensors 556 that do not provide sizeinformation.

At 616, controller 116 may determine one or more operational parametersfor apparatus 100 based on one or more of the crustacean information,processing options, and size information. For example, operationalparameters may include one or more of each of conveyor speed, bladeactuation timing, blade speed, blade force, and piercing force. In someembodiments, operational parameters corresponding to sets or subsets ofcrustacean information values, processing option values, and sizeinformation values may be stored (e.g. in a database) in local storageat the controller 116 (e.g. memory 562 or storage device 570), in remotestorage, and/or over network 576. In this case, controller 116 maylook-up the stored operational parameters corresponding to acorresponding set or subset of crustacean information values, processingoption values, and size information values.

In some embodiments, controller 116 may extrapolate or interpolate thestored operational parameters corresponding to the closest sets orsubsets of crustacean information values, processing option values, andsize information values. In other embodiments, controller 116 may applya formula or algorithm for calculating operational parameters based onone or more of the crustacean information values, processing optionvalues, and size information values. One or more of the operationalparameters (e.g. conveyor speed, or blade speed) may be predetermined(e.g. fixed) and therefore not determined by controller 116 at 616.

It will be appreciated that the hardness of a shell of a crustacean bodypart 124 may vary along the length of the crustacean body part, and/orbetween different sides of the crustacean body part. For example, in abody part containing a claw and knuckle, the shell of the claw may beharder than the shell of knuckle. Also, the hardness of the knuckleshell may vary between the proximal end of the knuckle to the distal endof the knuckle (whether continuously, discontinuously, or stepwise).Further, the hardness of the shell of the claw and/or knuckle may differfrom one lengthwise side to the other.

In some embodiments, controller 116 may determine a set of one or moreoperational parameters to apply for each of a plurality of shellportions of a crustacean body part (e.g. whether by formula/algorithm,or look-up in a database as described above). For example, controller116 may calculate or retrieve a set of operational parameters for thecutting assembly 108 for each of a plurality of shell portions of thebody part 124 to be cut by cutting assembly 108.

For example, FIG. 33 shows an exemplary crustacean body part 700. Alengthwise shell cutting path 708 may extend through a plurality ofshell portions 704-1 to 704-n. Each shell portion 704 may be apredetermined portion (e.g. percentage length segment, fixed lengthsegment, or visually identifiable segment) of the shell 702 of body part700. The lengthwise size of each shell portion 704 may be the same ordifferent from other shell portions 704. Controller 116 may retrieve,interpolate, extrapolate, or calculate by algorithm/formula (asdescribed above) one or more operational parameters for each portion704-1 to 704-n, which values may differ by portion 704. For example,controller 116 may retrieve operational parameters corresponding to setsor subsets of crustacean information values, processing option values,size information values, and shell portions, each of which may be storedin one or more of local storage at the controller 116 (e.g. memory 562or storage device 570), in remote storage, and/or over network 576. Itwill be appreciated that different sides (e.g. upper, lower, and lateralsides) of the body part 700 may represent the same shell portion 704 ordifferent shell portions 704.

Alternatively, or in addition, controller 116 may determine a continuouslinear or non-linear variation in one or more of the operationalparameters to be applied to cutting along the length of the crustaceanbody part, or some shell portion thereof.

It will be appreciated that the operational parameters may includedifferent parameters for the lower cutting subassembly than for theupper cutting subassembly. Alternatively, or in addition, theoperational parameters may include different parameters for upstreamcutting subassemblies than for downstream cutting subassemblies. Thismay permit the upstream cutting subassemblies to be specially configuredfor cutting crustacean body parts of a first type or size, and thedownstream cutting subassemblies to be specially configured for cuttingcrustacean body parts of a second type or size.

At 620, controller 116 may direct cutting assembly 108 and/or crackingassembly 112 to operate on the crustacean body part 124 for which sizeinformation was received at 612, according to the received processingoptions 608 and the determined (and/or predetermined) operationalparameter(s). In the meantime, conveyor 104 may continue to convey a newcrustacean body part 124, which may be measured by sensor 556 at 612 toprovide controller 116 with size information to use at 616 fordetermining operational parameters specific to the new crustacean bodypart 124. Method 600 may continue until no new crustacean body parts 124are placed onto conveyor 104.

Although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may bedescribed (in the disclosure and/or in the claims) in a sequentialorder, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to workin alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps thatmay be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that thesteps be performed in that order. The steps of processes describedherein may be performed in any order that is practical. Further, somesteps may be performed simultaneously.

For example, receiving processing options at 608 may precede receivingcrustacean information at 604 in some embodiments. In some cases,receiving crustacean information and processing options at 604 and 608may occur simultaneously. For example, controller 116 may provide auser-interface with selectable pre-compiled sets of crustaceaninformation and processing options. This may be convenient where afacility operates apparatus 100 to frequently perform similar processingon similar crustacean body parts.

Processed Product Examples

Reference is now made to FIGS. 29-31 which illustrate exemplarycrustacean body parts processed by apparatus 100. Each processed bodypart described or illustrated may provide convenient access to the meatinside the body parts.

FIG. 29 shows a lobster limb 624 including a claw 628 integrallyconnected (i.e. organically connected and never severed from) a knuckle632. As shown, limb 624 extends in length from a proximal severed end636 of knuckle 632 to a distal end 640 of claw 628. Claw 628 is shownincluding a shell 644, and knuckle 632 is shown including a shell 648.Inside each of shell 644 and 648 is meat organically connected (e.g. bynatural muscular adhesion) to the shell.

In the illustrated example, a crack 652 has been formed in shell 644 bycracking assembly 112. As shown, crack 652 extends laterally about theentire circumference of shell 644, thus dividing shell 644 into a distalshell portion 656, and a proximal shell portion 660. Optionally, distaland proximal shell portions 656 and 660 may be spaced apart as shown toexpose claw meat 664 inside, or they may remain in abutting relation.

As exemplified, distal shell portion 656 has a length 668, and proximalshell portion 660 has a length 672. The position of crack 652 may beexpressed as a ratio of length 668 to length 672. Preferably, the ratioof lengths 668 to 672 is between 7:1 and 1:2, more preferably between5:1 and 1:1, and most preferably 4:1 and 3:2.

FIG. 30 shows another embodiment of lobster limb 624, which has beenfurther cut by cutting assembly 108. As illustrated, a cut 676 may beformed in a first side of shell 648. Cut 676 may extend lengthwise fromdistal end 680 of knuckle 632 to proximal end 636 of knuckle 632 asshown, or a portion thereof. Preferably, cut 676 is a lengthwise linearcut which penetrates through the entire thickness of shell 648 withoutcutting into the meat below.

Limb 624 may include one cut 676 formed along just one side of limb 624,or may include a plurality of cuts 676 (e.g. 2, 3, or 4 cuts) formedalong multiple sides of limb 624. For example, limb 624 may include asecond cut (not shown) parallel to cut 676 formed on an opposite secondside of shell 648. In this case, cut 676 and the second cut may divideshell 648 into a first shell portion 684 and a second shell portion 688.

FIG. 31 shows another embodiment of lobster limb 624, wherein cut 676extends from crack 652 proximally toward proximal end 636. As shown, cut676 may extend from distal cut end 692 at crack 652 to a proximal cutend 696 at proximal end 636. In alternative embodiments, proximal cutend 696 may be spaced apart from proximal end 636. Preferably, cut 676extends across between 25% and 100% of the length of shell 648, morepreferably between 50% and 100% of the length of shell 648, and mostpreferably between 85% and 100% of the length of shell 648. Cut 676 mayextend substantially perpendicularly to crack 652.

FIG. 32 shows another embodiment of lobster limb 624, wherein cut 676extends from a distal cut end 692 that is distal of crack 652 lengthwiseto a proximal cut end 696 that is proximal of crack 652, intersectingwith crack 652. As shown, cut 676 may extend from distal cut end 692 atdistal end 640 of claw 628 to proximal cut end 696 at proximal end 636of knuckle 632, crossing crack 652. In alternative embodiments, distalcut end 692 may be position at any lengthwise position between crack 652and distal end 640. Further, proximal cut end 696 may be position at anylengthwise position between crack 652 and proximal end 636. Preferably,proximal cut end 696 is positioned in shell 648 such that cut 676extends through at least a portion of shell 648 of knuckle 632.

While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, itwill be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the describedembodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from thespirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments.Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to beillustrative of the invention and non-limiting and it will be understoodby persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe claims appended hereto. The scope of the claims should not belimited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be giventhe broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Items

-   Item 1. An apparatus for cracking a shell of a crustacean body part,    the apparatus comprising:-   a base to support a crustacean body part;-   a clamp positioned to secure the body part in a region on the base;    and-   at least a first piercing member, the first piercing member being    movable toward the region for piercing a shell of the body part, and    being rotatable for cracking the pierced shell of the body part.-   Item 2. The apparatus of item 1, further comprising:-   a second piercing member, the second piercing member being movable    toward the region for piercing the shell of the body part, and being    rotatable for cracking the pierced shell of the body part.-   Item 3. The apparatus of item 2, wherein:-   the first and second piercing members are position at opposite sides    of the region, and each of the first and second piercing members are    movable toward the other of the first and second piercing members    into the region for piercing the shell of the body part.-   Item 4. The apparatus of any one of items 1-3, wherein:-   the clamp includes a ram head spaced apart from the base and movable    toward the base for clamping the crustacean body part between the    ram head and the base.-   Item 5. The apparatus of item 4, wherein:-   the clamp includes an actuator drivingly coupled to the ram head for    selectively moving the ram head toward the base.-   Item 6. The apparatus of any one of items 4 or 5, when dependent on    item 2 or item 3, wherein:-   the first and second piercing members are laterally spaced apart and    oriented in facing relation, and-   the ram head is movable toward a position on base that is laterally    between the first and second piercing members.-   Item 7. The apparatus of item 5 or item 6, when dependent on item 5,    wherein:-   the actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder.-   Item 8. The apparatus of any one of items 1-7, further comprising:-   a piercing actuator drivingly coupled to the first piercing member    for selectively moving the piercing member toward the region.-   Item 9. The apparatus of any one of items 2-7 when dependent on item    2, further comprising:-   a first piercing actuator drivingly coupled to the first piercing    member for selectively moving the first piercing member toward the    second piercing member; and-   a second piercing actuator drivingly coupled to the second piercing    member for selectively moving the second piercing member toward the    first piercing member.-   Item 10. The apparatus of any one of items 2-9 when dependent on    item 2, wherein:-   the first and second piercing members are laterally spaced apart,-   the first and second piercing members are movable in a lateral    direction, and-   each of the first and second piercing member is rotatable about a    twist axis substantially parallel to the lateral direction.-   Item 11. The apparatus of item 10, further comprising:-   a first cracking actuator drivingly coupled to the first piercing    member for selectively rotating the first piercing member about the    twist axis; and-   a second cracking actuator drivingly coupled to the second piercing    member for selectively rotating the second piercing member about the    twist axis.-   Item 12. The apparatus of any one of items 1-11, wherein:-   each piercing member includes a substantially linear piercing edge.-   Item 13. The apparatus of item 12, wherein:-   the piercing edge of each piercing member is blunt.-   Item 14. The apparatus of item 12, wherein:-   the piercing edge of each piercing member is sharpened.-   Item 15. The apparatus of item 12, wherein:-   the piercing edge of each piercing member is wedge shaped.-   Item 16. A method of cracking a shell of a crustacean body part, the    method comprising:-   piercing a shell of a crustacean body part with a first piercing    member to form a first inceptive crack in the shell; and-   twisting the first piercing member to propagate the first inceptive    crack laterally about at least a first portion of a circumference of    the shell.-   Item 17. The method of item 16, further comprising:-   clamping the body part in position during said piercing and    twisting.-   Item 18. The method of any one of items 16-17, further comprising:-   conveying the body part in a downstream direction;-   halting said conveying during said twisting; and-   resuming said conveying after said twisting.-   Item 19. The method of any one of items 16-18, further comprising:-   piercing the shell with a second piercing member to form a second    inceptive crack in the shell; and-   twisting the second piercing member to propagate the second    inceptive crack laterally about at least a second portion of the    circumference of the shell.-   Item 20. The method of item 19, wherein:-   said twisting the first piercing member and said twisting the second    piercing member propagate the first and second inceptive cracks to    form a continuous crack in the shell extending about an entire    circumference of the body part.-   Item 21. The method of any one of items 19-20, wherein:-   said piercing the shell with the first piercing member comprises    piercing a first side of the shell; and-   said piercing the shell with the second piercing member comprises    piercing a second side of the shell opposite the first side of the    shell.-   Item 22. The method of any one of items 16-21, wherein:-   the first piercing member comprises a substantially linear edge, and-   piercing the shell with the first piercing member comprises    penetrating the shell with the linear edge.-   Item 23. The method of any one of items 16-22, wherein:-   the first inceptive crack has a length along the shell; and-   twisting the first piercing member comprises widening the first    inceptive crack to propagate the length of the crack along the    shell.-   Item 24. A method of processing a crustacean body part, the method    comprising:-   actuating a first fluidic device drivingly coupled to a first blade,    driving the first blade to penetrate a first shell side of a shell    of a crustacean body part;-   cutting a first lengthwise incision in the first shell side with the    first blade;-   actuating a second fluidic device drivingly coupled to a second    blade, driving the second blade to penetrate a second shell side of    the shell; and-   cutting a second lengthwise incision in the second shell side with    the second blade.-   Item 25. The method of item 24, wherein:-   the first fluidic device comprises a fluidic piston cylinder    drivingly coupled to the first blade.-   Item 26. The method of any one of items 24-25, wherein:-   the first fluidic device is a pneumatic device.-   Item 27. The method of any one of items 24-26, wherein:-   the shell comprises a first shell portion and a second shell portion    arranged lengthwise;-   the first lengthwise incision comprises a first incision portion in    the first shell portion and a second incision portion in the second    shell portion;-   said cutting the first lengthwise incision in the first side of the    shell comprises cutting the first incision portion and cutting the    second incision portion; and-   said actuating the first fluidic device comprises    -   actuating the first fluidic device to apply a first blade force        to the first blade against the body part during said cutting the        first incision portion, and    -   actuating the first fluidic device to apply a second blade force        to the first blade against the body part during said cutting the        second incision portion,-   wherein the first blade force is different from the second blade    force.-   Item 28. The method of item 27, wherein:-   the first shell portion has a first hardness,-   the second shell portion has a second hardness less than the first    hardness, and-   the first blade force is greater than the second blade force.-   Item 29. The method of any one of items 24-28, further comprising:-   conveying the limb in a lengthwise direction relative to the first    and second blades.-   Item 30. The method of any one of items 24-29, wherein:-   said actuating the first and second fluidic devices, and said    cutting the first and second sides of the shell overlap in time.-   Item 31. The method of any one of items 24-30, wherein:-   the first blade is a rotary blade, and-   said cutting the first lengthwise incision comprising rotating the    rotary blade.-   Item 32. A method of processing a crustacean body part, the method    comprising:-   penetrating a first shell portion of a shell of a crustacean body    part with a first blade to a first cutting depth;-   cutting a first lengthwise incision in the first shell portion with    the first blade;-   penetrating a second shell portion of the shell with a second blade    to a second cutting depth different from the first cutting depth;    and-   cutting a second lengthwise incision in the second shell portion    with the second blade.-   Item 33. The method of item 32, wherein:-   the crustacean body part comprises a claw and a knuckle arranged    lengthwise,-   the claw comprises one of the first and second shell portions, and    the knuckle comprises the other of the first and second shell    portions.-   Item 34. The method of any one of items 32-33, wherein:-   the first blade comprises a first blade guard that contacts the    shell when the first blade penetrates the crustacean body part by    the first cutting depth, and-   the second blade comprises a second blade guard that contacts the    shell when the second blade penetrates the crustacean body part by    the second cutting depth.-   Item 35. The method of any one of items 32-34, wherein:-   said cutting the first lengthwise incision comprises applying a    first blade force to the first blade against the crustacean body    part, and-   said cutting the second lengthwise incision comprises applying a    second blade force, different from the first blade force, to the    second blade against the crustacean body part.-   Item 36. The method of item 35, wherein:-   applying the first and second blade forces comprises actuating one    or more fluidic devices.-   Item 37. The method of any one of items 32-36, wherein:-   said cutting the second lengthwise incision begins after said    cutting the first lengthwise incision ends.-   Item 38. The method of any one of items 32-36, further comprising:-   conveying the crustacean body part lengthwise downstream,-   wherein the second blade is positioned downstream the first blade.-   Item 39. A method of processing a crustacean body part, the method    performed by an apparatus for processing crustacean body parts, the    method comprising:-   conveying the crustacean body part in a downstream direction;-   measuring size information of the crustacean body part; and-   determining one or more operational parameters of a shell cutting    assembly based at least in part on the size information.-   Item 40. The method of item 39, wherein:-   said measuring is performed by a sensor.-   Item 41. The method of any one of items 39-40, further comprising:-   receiving the size information at a controller, wherein the    controller performs said determining.-   Item 42. The method of any one of items 39-41, wherein:-   the one or more operational parameters comprise at least one of    blade speed, and blade force.-   Item 43. The method of any one of items 39-42, further comprising:-   cutting the crustacean body part with the shell cutting assembly    according to the one or more operational parameters.-   Item 44. The method of any one of items 39-43, wherein:-   said conveying comprises conveying the crustacean body part    downstream to the shell cutting assembly.-   Item 45. The method of any one of items 39-44, further comprising:-   receiving crustacean information for the crustacean body part,-   wherein said determining one or more operational parameters    comprises determining the one or more operational parameters based    at least in part on the size information, and the crustacean    information.-   Item 46. The method of any one of items 45, further comprising:-   storing, in a database, said one or more operational parameters in    association with the size information and the crustacean    information.-   Item 47. The method of any one of items 46, wherein:-   said determining one or more operational parameters comprises    identifying the one or more operational parameters stored in the    database in association with the size information and the crustacean    information.-   Item 48. The method of any one of items 45-47, wherein:-   the crustacean information comprises one or more of: crustacean    species, exoskeletal status, body part identification, season,    source location, and crustacean size.-   Item 49. The method of any one of items 45-47, wherein:-   the crustacean information comprises body part identification.-   Item 50. The method of any one of items 43-49 when dependent on item    43, further comprising:-   receiving one or more processing options,-   wherein said cutting the crustacean body part comprises cutting the    crustacean body part according to the one or more operational    parameters and the one or more processing options.-   Item 51. The method of item 49, wherein:-   the processing options comprise one or more of: cut length, and    side(s) to cut.-   Item 52. A controller for directing processing a crustacean body    part by an apparatus for processing a crustacean body part, the    controller comprising:-   a memory storing computer readable instructions; and-   one or more processors collectively configured to execute the    computer readable instructions,-   the computer readable instructions configuring the one or more    processors to collectively:    -   receive size information of a crustacean body part from a        sensor; and    -   determine one or more operational parameters of a shell cutting        assembly of the apparatus based at least in part on the size        information.-   Item 53. The controller of items 52, wherein:-   the one or more operational parameters comprise at least one of    blade speed, and blade force.-   Item 54. The controller of any one of items 52-53, wherein the    computer readable instructions further configure the one or more    processors to collectively:    -   direct the shell cutting assembly to cut the crustacean body        part according to the one or more operational parameters.-   Item 55. The controller of item 54, wherein:-   said directing the shell cutting assembly comprises controlling one    or more of fluid pressure and fluid volume to one or more fluidic    devices of the shell cutting assembly.-   Item 56. The controller of any one of items 52-55, wherein the    computer readable instructions further configure the one or more    processors to collectively:    -   control a conveyance speed of a conveyor of the apparatus for        transporting the crustacean body part downstream to the shell        cutting assembly.-   Item 57. The controller of any one of items 52-56, wherein the    computer readable instructions further configure the one or more    processors to collectively:    -   receive crustacean information for the crustacean body part,    -   wherein said determining one or more operational parameters,        comprises determining the one or more operational parameters        based at least in part on the size information and the        crustacean information.-   Item 58. The controller of any one of items 57, wherein:-   said determining one or more operational parameters comprises    identifying the one or more operational parameters stored in a    database in association with the size information and the crustacean    information.-   Item 59. The controller of any one of items 57-58, wherein:-   the crustacean information comprises one or more of: crustacean    species, exoskeletal status, body part identification, season,    source location, and crustacean size.-   Item 60. The controller of any one of items 57-58, wherein:-   the crustacean information comprises body part identification.-   Item 61. The controller of any one of items 54-60 when dependent on    item 54, wherein the computer readable instructions further    configure the one or more processors to collectively:    -   receive one or more processing options,    -   wherein said directing shell cutting assembly comprises        directing shell cutting assembly to cut the crustacean body part        according to the one or more operational parameters and the one        or more processing options.-   Item 62. The controller of item 61, wherein:-   the one or more processing options comprise one or more of: cut    length, and side(s) to cut.-   Item 63. The controller of item 52, wherein:-   the shell cutting assembly comprises an upstream cutting subassembly    and a downstream cutting subassembly; and-   the one or more operational parameters comprises whether to cut the    crustacean body part with the upstream cutting subassembly, the    downstream cutting subassembly, or both.-   Item 64. The controller of item 63, wherein:-   the upstream cutting subassembly comprises at least one blade having    a blade guard defining a first cutting depth; and-   the downstream cutting subassembly comprises at least one blade    having a blade guard defining a second cutting depth different from    the first cutting depth.-   Item 65. An apparatus for processing a crustacean body part, the    apparatus comprising:-   a conveyor having a downstream direction and a first region for    supporting a crustacean body part;-   a first blade; and-   a first fluidic device drivingly coupled to the first blade,    actuation of the first fluidic device moving the first blade into    the first region.-   Item 66. The apparatus of item 65, further comprising:-   a controller communicatively coupled to at least the first fluidic    device for sequentially directing actuation of the first pneumatic    device with a first fluid pressure and then actuation of the first    fluidic device with a second fluid pressure different from the first    fluid pressure.-   Item 67. The apparatus of item 66, wherein the controller is    configured to:-   direct actuation of the first fluidic device with the first fluid    pressure for a first predetermined time period, and-   after the first time period, direct actuation of the first fluidic    device with the second fluid pressure for a second predetermined    time period.-   Item 68. The apparatus of item 65, further comprising:-   a controller configured to send one or more control signals to    sequentially direct actuation of the first fluidic device with a    first fluid pressure and afterwards direct actuation of the first    fluidic device with a second fluid pressure different from the first    fluid pressure.-   Item 69. The apparatus of item 65, further comprising:-   a second blade; and-   a second fluidic device drivingly coupled to the second blade,    actuation of the second fluidic device moving the second blade into    the first region.-   Item 70. The apparatus of item 69, wherein:-   the first blade has a first blade guard defining a first cutting    depth for the first blade;-   the second blade has a second blade guard defining a second cutting    depth for the second blade; and-   the first cutting depth is different from the second cutting depth.-   Item 71. The apparatus of any one of items 69-70, wherein:-   the second blade is positioned downstream the first blade.-   Item 72. The apparatus of item 71, further comprising:-   a third blade movable into the first region opposite the first    blade, and-   a fourth blade movable into the first region opposite the second    blade.-   Item 73. A pre-cut seafood item comprising:-   a crustacean limb, the limb including an organically connected claw    and knuckle, an exterior shell, and meat inside the shell,    -   the limb extending in length from a proximal severed end of the        knuckle to a distal end of the claw;-   a crack in the shell circumscribing the claw, the crack dividing the    shell into a distal shell portion and a proximal shell portion;-   at least a first cut in the proximal shell portion, the first cut    extending lengthwise from the crack toward the proximal end of the    knuckle.-   Item 74. The pre-cut seafood item of item 71, wherein:-   the first cut extends from the crack to the proximal end of the    knuckle.-   Item 75. The pre-cut seafood item of any one of items 71-72, further    comprising:-   a second cut in the proximal shell portion, the second cut extending    lengthwise from the crack toward the proximal end of the knuckle.-   Item 76. The pre-cut seafood item of item 73, wherein:-   each of the first and second cuts extends from the crack to the    proximal end of the knuckle, and-   the first and second cuts divide the proximal shell portion into    first and second shell portions.-   Item 77. The pre-cut seafood item of item 73, wherein:-   the first cut is formed in a first side of the proximal shell    portion, and-   the second cut is formed in a second side of the proximal shell    portion opposite the first side.-   Item 78. The pre-cut seafood item of item 73, wherein:-   the first and second cuts are formed in a same side of the proximal    shell portion.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of processing a crustacean bodypart, the method comprising: actuating a first fluidic device drivinglycoupled to a first blade, driving the first blade to penetrate a firstshell side of a shell of a crustacean body part; and cutting a firstlengthwise incision in the first shell side with the first blade,wherein: the shell comprises a first shell portion and a second shellportion arranged lengthwise, the first lengthwise incision comprises afirst incision portion in the first shell portion and a second incisionportion in the second shell portion, said cutting the first lengthwiseincision in the first side of the shell comprises cutting the firstincision portion and cutting the second incision portion, said actuatingthe first fluidic device comprises actuating the first fluidic device toapply a first blade force to the first blade against the body partduring said cutting the first incision portion, and actuating the firstfluidic device to apply a second blade force to the first blade againstthe body part during said cutting the second incision portion, and thefirst blade force is different from the second blade force.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: actuating a second fluidic devicedrivingly coupled to a second blade, driving the second blade topenetrate a second shell side of the shell; and cutting a secondlengthwise incision in the second shell side with the second blade. 3.The method of claim 2, further comprising: conveying the crustacean bodypart in a lengthwise direction relative to the first and second blades.4. The method of claim 2, wherein: said actuating the first and secondfluidic devices, and said cutting the first and second sides of theshell overlap in time.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: the firstfluidic device comprises a fluidic piston cylinder drivingly coupled tothe first blade.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first fluidicdevice is a pneumatic device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein: thefirst shell portion has a first hardness, the second shell portion has asecond hardness less than the first hardness, and the first blade forceis greater than the second blade force.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein: the first blade is a rotary blade, and said cutting the firstlengthwise incision comprising rotating the rotary blade.
 9. A method ofprocessing a crustacean body part, the method comprising: penetrating afirst shell portion of a shell of a crustacean body part with a firstblade to a first cutting depth; cutting a first lengthwise incision inthe first shell portion with the first blade; penetrating a second shellportion of the shell with a second blade to a second cutting depthdifferent from the first cutting depth; and cutting a second lengthwiseincision in the second shell portion with the second blade.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein: the crustacean body part comprises a clawand a knuckle arranged lengthwise, the claw comprises one of the firstand second shell portions, and the knuckle comprises the other of thefirst and second shell portions.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein: thefirst blade comprises a first blade guard that contacts the shell whenthe first blade penetrates the crustacean body part by the first cuttingdepth, and the second blade comprises a second blade guard that contactsthe shell when the second blade penetrates the crustacean body part bythe second cutting depth.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein: saidcutting the first lengthwise incision comprises applying a first bladeforce to the first blade against the crustacean body part, and saidcutting the second lengthwise incision comprises applying a second bladeforce, different from the first blade force, to the second blade againstthe crustacean body part.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein: applyingthe first and second blade forces comprises actuating one or morefluidic devices.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein: said cutting thesecond lengthwise incision begins after said cutting the firstlengthwise incision ends.
 15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:conveying the crustacean body part lengthwise downstream, wherein thesecond blade is positioned downstream the first blade.
 16. An apparatusfor processing a crustacean body part, the apparatus comprising: aconveyor having a downstream direction and a first region for supportinga crustacean body part; a first blade; a first fluidic device drivinglycoupled to the first blade, actuation of the first fluidic device movingthe first blade into the first region; a second blade; and a secondfluidic device drivingly coupled to the second blade, actuation of thesecond fluidic device moving the second blade into the first region,wherein the second blade is positioned downstream the first blade. 17.The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a controller configuredto send one or more control signals to sequentially direct actuation ofthe first fluidic device with a first fluid pressure and afterwardsdirect actuation of the first fluidic device with a second fluidpressure different from the first fluid pressure.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 16, further comprising: a third blade movable into the firstregion opposite the first blade, and a fourth blade movable into thefirst region opposite the second blade.
 19. An apparatus for processinga crustacean body part, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor having adownstream direction and a first region for supporting a crustacean bodypart; a first blade; a first fluidic device drivingly coupled to thefirst blade, actuation of the first fluidic device moving the firstblade into the first region; and a controller communicatively coupled toat least the first fluidic device for sequentially directing actuationof the first pneumatic device with a first fluid pressure and thenactuation of the first fluidic device with a second fluid pressuredifferent from the first fluid pressure.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19,wherein the controller is configured to: direct actuation of the firstfluidic device with the first fluid pressure for a first predeterminedtime period, and after the first time period, direct actuation of thefirst fluidic device with the second fluid pressure for a secondpredetermined time period.
 21. The apparatus of claim 19, furthercomprising: a second blade; and a second fluidic device drivinglycoupled to the second blade, actuation of the second fluidic devicemoving the second blade into the first region.
 22. An apparatus forprocessing a crustacean body part, the apparatus comprising: a conveyorhaving a downstream direction and a first region for supporting acrustacean body part; a first blade; a first fluidic device drivinglycoupled to the first blade, actuation of the first fluidic device movingthe first blade into the first region; a second blade; and a secondfluidic device drivingly coupled to the second blade, actuation of thesecond fluidic device moving the second blade into the first region,wherein: the first blade has a first blade guard defining a firstcutting depth for the first blade; the second blade has a second bladeguard defining a second cutting depth for the second blade; and thefirst cutting depth is different from the second cutting depth.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein: the second blade is positioneddownstream the first blade.